Flame plug for internal-combustion engines



i 1,621 581 March 22 1927' J. M. CLARK FLAME PLUG FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 2, 1923 I INVENTO ffiyhz gja/ if' Patented Mar.f22

' JOHN, M. ctAnx,- on NEW Yonx, IN. Y.'

,to emphasize its action. and

rt'AnE'rL g FOR mmmunconnusrxon mma's.

' Application filed (Matcher 2, 1923. serial lil'o. 666,18 l.

' The device, the subject ofthis invention is termed a flame plug to difi'erentiate it from the commonly known spark plugs and the results'obtained from its use. '-j The principal bject of the invention is to provide a hot and intense flame, rather pl than a mere'spark.

To provide step-up means within the plug casing and in direct communication with the" combustible gases within the cylinder of the engine, which'so-intensifies the current-passing that a long and'retained flame passes from the final step-up element to the ground portion of the plug.

To provide a plurality of intermediate steps, each of which produces a spark of ini creasing intensity and to locate the final discharge flame at a point in relation, to the.

compressed fuel that will-assure a thorough V v Y insulation 15 and an --insu.-at1ng core 16.

' ignition of the'fuela been discovered, will befound the richest Y tion.

' of Fig. 2.

and therefore most readily combustible gases.

-All of these objects and themeans for accomplishing them will be set forth in the specification which follows and the accom-, panying drawing should be referred to for a complete understanding of the specifica In the 'drawingF- I I I Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view ofthe preferred construction.

Fig. 2, a sectional viewthrou'gh the inten -M Lsiiixing member. I 3 v 3, agsectional view, similar to Fig.

tion. 7

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line Fi 5 is a sectional view throu h" an intens' er wherein. blocks are-used in lieu of used in lieu of blocks.

' Fi '1 is. a view similar to Fig.1, showing ab tup intensifier.

Fi tensifier shown'in Fig. 7.- l

Fig. 9 isf'an end elevationof the'deviee -ber 1'0 may be referred to as the And a still further and im orts object- 23 of which any suitable-number may provided. In the drawing, Iv have shown seven such rings. but the :number may be -changed,if desired. These rings are each a difierent mode of construc-- 4 V ring is in direct electrical contact with the head 20 of, the stud 17, the member 24 shown 1 and 6, the insulating memb Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures where they appear.

At 1 0,'I-sh ow a cast, metal member which serves as a meansfor securingmy plug into the cylinder of an engine and also is a means for supportingthe" other portions of the g I 4 One function of the member 10 is to-serve as one side of'theelectric circuit; the memgrounded side of the circuit and is provided with an invwardly projecting flange 11, which is spaced a suitable distance from the intensifier, which is arranged centrally within the member 10 and" the end of which passes through a-perforation 12 in the'flange 11-. 1

Within the member 10, I'provide a cham-- ber 13 which. will. be referred to later.

A. small plug 14-. may be screw-threaded into .the'me'mber 10 andsup ortsa plug of 7 Through the plug 15fand core 16, a screwthreaded stud 17 passes and'upon which I arrange a thumb nut 18 and a locking nut; and washer 18 for securing the stud within the plug and for securingawire terminal to the stud. Y a

As shown-in .Fig. 2, the stud 17 is pro-' vided with a liberal head 20, into which. is screw-threadeda bolt 2I and upon the'bolt 21, I arrange mica' or other suitable insulating material as shown at 22 and in recesses in' the insulating material, I secure rings isolated from. each other. though I call par-' I ticularatt'e'ntion' to thefact that each ring projects outwardly beyond the adjacent insulating material 22. "The first or innermost 5 on the bolt 21;, serving as a lock nut to secure the rings'and'mica' assembled.

- I' calluparticular attention to the factltha t. v s

the beadiof the bolt 21 is small and that the insulatin f 'material tapers toward the bolt head as s own at 24, so as to isolate the bolt. head and to prevent a spark jumping over 2 Fi s-.23, 5 is formed of porcelain, as is the mem pa's through the metallic members 10 and 14. "g

s the bolt head to the flan e 11.. .8 is an enlarged elevation of the inf In the construction s own fully understood. I desire to call attention,

prefer the use of porcelain and in'the construction. shown in Fi 3, the rings 28 are sna or split rings as s own in Fig. 4.

. 'l iefunctions ofmy device can be fullyobtained ifblocks, boltheads or" studs are employed in lieu of the rings 23 or 28 shown. I

.In Fig. 5,1 showblocks 29 and 30 secured together in opposite pairs by a pin 31 which may be riveted within the blocks 29 and '30,

the first pin. 32 extending through the stud 33 upon which the thumb nut 34 is screw"- threaded. i

- The use of porcelain obviates the possibility of a spark jumping from the bolt head as shown'at 21' to the ring 11, forcing all of the current to pass from block to block or ring to ring,-to' itsfinal destination, the

grounded flange 11.

In Fig. 6, I how studs 35 passing through the porcelain member 26 and each provided .With a nut 36, the uppermost or innermost parts assing through the stud 33. o

In t e construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

may be made of mica. This insulating member 37 is in this instance, a built .up

member provided with a plurality of studs,

each insulated over the other, but each sethe travel of the spark.

cured in the laminated and insulating member 3,7. In this instance, the studs 38am in staggered relation and the end terminal is a pm as shown at 39. The screw 40 se-' cures the device to a reduced portion of the" stud 41 to which the thumb nut42isscrewthreaded and a second screw thread 43 secures the pin 39 in place, the screws 40 and.

43 enteringinto and serving as elements for From the somewhat brief description of the device hereshown, its operation will be however, to the fact that the travel of the spark from ring to ring or stud wand, will increase its intensity at the flange 11, along...

drawn out, fat spark or flame will be provduced. i v

' I further call attention to the fact that therings or blocks are in each instance arranged ina chamber 13 which serves as a primary ignition chamber and further serves as" a. heat retaining means assuring that the insulating member is oblong and flat and suflicient heat will retained to burn up the carbon that might otherwise collect -on the rings or blocks. It will be noted that this chamber is' in direct communication with the interior of thecylinder.

fModifications' other than those shown may.

be inade without ,the scope of the appended claims without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of this invention.

Having invention 5 tallic members upon said insulating member andspaced thereon, the innermost metallic member being electrically'c'onnected to said stem and a flange upon said body member. and adjacent to the outermost 'metallic I member.

2. A flame engines comprising a metallic body member having a chamber therein and in directcom munication with the interior-of the cylinder of an engine and an intensifying means within said. chamber, a flange upon said body" member, adjacent to but away from one end terminal of said intensifyin means and pro comprising a body member having a chamlug 'for internal'coinbiistion f 1 'viding afinal and particu arly short path "for the current. f

3.'A-- d evice of the character described her therein, intensifying means within said J chamber, said intensifying means consisting of an insulating member, a plurality of metallic members in spaced relation therewith, and extending therethrough means for passing current to one said metallic member and v a flange upon said body member and adjacent to the last successive metallic membe for receiving said current.

Si ed at the city, count New ork, this 19th da of iptember, 1923.

' OHN M. .CLARK.

and State of i 

